Death Row Inmate Asks For New Penalty Hearing

A lawyer for the state is asking the Arkansas Supreme Court to reverse a ruling from about two years ago in order to keep a death row inmate from getting a new sentencing hearing.

Terrick Nooner was sentenced to execution for the 1993 slaying of 22-year-old Scot Stobaugh at a Little Rock laundry.

Nooner's attorney, Josh Lee, argued Thursday before the high court that the trial jury indicated on a form that it didn't consider mitigating evidence in the sentencing phase.

In December 2011, the court ordered a new sentencing hearing for Frank Williams for the same reason.

Senior Assistant Attorney General Kelly Fields asked the justices to deny Nooner's request, which would have the effect of reversing the precedent set by the Williams ruling. The court will rule later.